EFCC Includes Bello in N100bn Diversion Case Before Gov Tenure

Bashar Jelani Limanchi

8 months ago

EFCC Includes Bello in N100bn Diversion Case Before Gov Tenure

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has widened its net in a case involving the purported diversion of approximately N100 billion, allegedly occurring prior to the assumption of office by former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in September 2015.

Yahaya Bello, alongside the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Alli Bello, and Daudu Suleiman, has been named in an amended suit by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency has re-arraigned Suleiman, along with Alli Bello, who pleaded not guilty to the amended 17-count charge before Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Notably absent from the courtroom was the ex-governor, who was not initially listed as a defendant in the original suit.

During the proceedings, objections were raised regarding the reading of the amended charge, with Alli Bello’s counsel citing non-compliance with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. However, the EFCC counsel countered, urging the court to reject the objections, asserting that the court had endorsed the amendment independently.

Justice Omotoso, emphasizing the pursuit of an accelerated hearing, ordered that objections be deferred until the address stage and proceeded with the reading of the charges.

Maintaining the bail conditions granted in previous charges, Justice Omotoso directed that Alli Bello and Abubakar Suleman continue to enjoy their bail privileges.

Among the allegations leveled against the defendants, they are accused of conspiring to convert N80,246,470,089 to their personal use in September 2015, thereby violating section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

Additionally, they are accused of concealing significant sums with Rabiu Musa Tafada, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator trading under Global Venture in Abuja.

The case underscores the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and uphold transparency in governance.

Source: Channels Television

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